American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollars History

The 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollars are officially no longer available from the United States Mint. They went off-sale on December 13, 2010, at 5PM ET to allow the US Mint a window of two weeks in order to fulfill any outstanding orders before the end of last year, which the Mint is required by law to do.

Sales of the silver commemorative coins began earlier in the year on February 25. They were struck to honor American Veterans who were disabled for life as a result of their duty. This includes those who died while serving, those who died after living with injuries received in the course of their duty and those who are alive today, but still bear the wounds and scars they suffered as a result of their service.

Both proof and uncirculated versions of the coins were struck. They were initially sold by the US Mint for the introductory prices of $39.95 for the proof and $33.95 for the uncirculated. Prices were raised after one month to $43.95 and $35.95, respectively.

Sales remained relatively strong throughout their availability. However, the total number sold fell short of reaching a sell-out status. According to the Mint’s most recent figures, 189,881 of the Proof American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollars were sold along with 77,859 of the Uncirculated American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollars. Added together, a total of 267,740 of the silver dollars were issued by the US Mint. This equates to approximately 76% of the maximum mintage of 350,000 put in place by the legislation that authorized them.

While failing to attain a sell-out, those numbers are still quite respectable. Last year’s Louis Braille Silver Dollars racked up an estimated 217,874 sold, or about 55% of their maximum mintage of 400,000 coins. Of course, it should also be noted that the recent 2010 Boy Scouts of America Commemorative Silver Dollar did sell out as did last year’s 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar. These coins had mintage caps of 350,000 and 500,000, respectively.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life coins were authorized by the American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 110-277). Their obverse was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart to show the legs and boots of three disabled veterans, one of which is shown with a pair of crutches. The reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna to show a wreath of oak branches with a forget-me-not flower at its base. Inside the wreath is the inscription of Take This Moment to Honor Our Disabled Defenders of Freedom.

Surcharges of $10 were collected by the US Mint on the sale of each coin. According to the Act which authorized the coins, these surcharges which totaled $2.6774 million were to be forwarded to the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation to support the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Proof Silver Dollar Images

Uncirculated Silver Dollar Images